Chosen? Or Choosing?

(Originally posted on 3/24/16)

Chosen? Or choosing? Yes!

Did God choose us or Do we choose God? Yes!

These days, I get to watch my child becoming a parent. I know what he’s going through. I hope for what he will learn. I pray. I expect he will succeed. I’m pretty sure he will be a ‘good parent’, before this is all over. So, ya, I ‘know’ how it’s going to turn out, in a way. Still, the new parents will make their own choices.

So, God, omniscient and far greater than I, can certainly know what we, His children, will do, and yet, we will choose for ourselves.

Romans 8:29 God knew [His children] before He made the world. And He decided they would be like His Son. Then Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters.

God, not restricted to linear experience, sees how we will turn out, but also simply “knows like a parent” what we we will decide to do, and when. He waits patiently for us to learn our way, our way. He doesn’t force or dictate. (He almost doesn’t need to?) Some things can be learned only from experience – more accurately: can be taught only by experience.

Can we, as parents, teach our child to crawl, walk, run? But can we know that they will learn these things? (Yes, I know there can be exceptions.) Can we then know that, in the end, they will understand “the hard way and the easy way” (which, as it will turn out, are really the easy way and the hard way?) Do we not rant and rave at them with words about what they “should” do, then have to watch – nearly helpless – while they touch the hot stove anyway?

Do we not pray for them. Does God pray for us? Yes!

:26 Also, the Spirit helps us… speaks to God for us… with feelings too deep for words… :27 in the way that agrees with what God wants.

Can we be certain that God will help us along the way? I choose to!

:28 We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him.